CVE-2005-0779 in FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
PlatinumFTP 1.0.18, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server crash) via multiple connection attempts with a \ (backslash) in the username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0779 affects PlatinumFTP version 1.0.18 and potentially earlier releases, presenting a significant denial of service risk that can lead to complete server unavailability. This issue arises from improper input validation within the FTP server's authentication handling mechanism, specifically when processing username credentials containing backslash characters. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or string parsing vulnerability that occurs when the server fails to properly sanitize user input before processing connection requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the server's inadequate handling of special characters within the username field during the authentication process. When multiple connection attempts are made with a backslash character in the username, the FTP server's internal string processing routines become overwhelmed or encounter malformed data structures that trigger unexpected behavior. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input length and format, and can be classified under the broader category of CWE-20, representing input validation issues. The backslash character creates a parsing anomaly that disrupts the normal execution flow of the FTP service, causing it to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can be exploited by malicious actors to perform sustained denial of service attacks against FTP servers running affected versions of PlatinumFTP. Attackers can repeatedly establish connections with specially crafted usernames containing backslashes, causing the server to continuously crash and restart, effectively rendering the service unusable. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where FTP services are critical for business operations, as it can be exploited with minimal technical expertise and resources. The attack vector is straightforward and does not require advanced privileges, making it a popular choice for disruptive attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a denial of service technique under the T1499 category, specifically targeting service availability through exploitation of software weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of PlatinumFTP installations to version 1.0.19 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper input validation. Network administrators should implement connection rate limiting and monitoring to detect unusual patterns of connection attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, firewall rules can be configured to restrict FTP access to trusted IP addresses only, reducing the attack surface. System hardening measures should include disabling unnecessary FTP features and implementing proper logging to detect and analyze suspicious connection patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation testing in software development processes, particularly for network services that handle user-provided data. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other network services and applications that might be susceptible to similar exploitation techniques.